By Morgan Van Wickler – Junior Art Director
People of all ages, backgrounds, races, and cultures assembled in Boston Common on January 21 for the Women’s March for America. While the march was heavily focused on women’s rights, it represented much more. The march represented the country standing in solidarity with each other, showing newly-elected Washington that all citizens of the U.S. will fight for their rights.
According to the Women’s March for America organization, 5,000 participants were expected to make an appearance. It turns out, more than 100,000 people were in attendance in Boston. There was at least one march in every state in America. According to CNN, there was a march on every continent, including Antarctica.
Coming from a primarily conservative area, most people from home do not share my political views, especially when it comes to women’s rights. I did my best to maintain my stance on my opinions, but not necessarily voice them to prevent arguments with my peers. However, that morning in the Common, I was surrounded by people who were there for the same reasons I was.
The march composed people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community, those with different religious views, and people of different social classes. Although each speaker at the rally before the march represented one aspect of the march, they were speaking to a united group. There was such a level of empathy by everyone representing each community, no one could have felt alone in that moment.
The march was not an angry riot, instead it was a celebration. People were dancing, singing, and laughing together. I felt such a sense of pride and excitement that I had the opportunity to stand up for people, including myself, who feel that they’ve lost their voice and representation in our country.
The streets were lined with people. Chants about democracy could be heard up and down the street while flags representing all different groups were being waved. History was being made that day, and I was right in the center of it all.
The event was not anti-Trump, it was pro-human rights, pro-science and more. Participants were looking at the big picture. The world needed to be reminded there is strength in numbers, and our current society lacks a visual example of what unity looks like. So we gave them one.
